9 Days Tsurphu Monastery to Yangpachen Trek

Lhasa

Tsurphu Monastery

Leten

Dorje Ling Nunnery-Yangpachen Monastery-Lhasa

Overview

This Route begins at Tsurphu Monastery and crosses several high valleys before coming into the broad and windswept Yanpachen valley, ends at Yanpanche Monastery. It combines alpine tundra, monasteries, hot springs, a lots nomads, and remote nunnery. This trek perfectly balances cultural and wilderness activities, available from mid-April to mid-October.

Transfer to Lhasa downtown after arriving in the Lhasa Gongar airport or the Lhasa train station. Have a rest in Lhasa to acclimatize the high altitude.

FoodsNo meals

Altitude3650m

Accommodation3 star hotel

Day 02-03Two full days Lhasa Sightseeing

Day 2-3: Two full days Lhasa Sightseeing(B)

Go sightseeing inside Lhasa in the first two days in Tibet. Visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites, such as Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Barkhor street, Sera Monastery,Drepung Monastery and Norbu Lingka.

In Potala palace, explore the grandest of this myriad chapel, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha.You will visit three important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost is Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, which attracts pilgrims all over Tibetan Area, built during songtsen gonpo’s reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. The other two, Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery, locate in suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, and living there. The famous Monks debiting held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.You will also explore the circular pilgrim route barkhor while traveling at Johkang Temple, contact local folks, and if possible purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc.The Norbu Lingka, literally “Jewel Garden,” was the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas. Located in the west suburb of Lhasa, it was built in the 40’s of the 18th century and covers an area of 36 hectares. It was a resort for the 7th Dalai Lama for bathing in fountain. At the time, the high commissioners of the Qing dynasty stationing to Tibet built the first palace for the 7th Dalai Lama. Consequently, the 8th, the 13th, and the 14th Dalai Lamas had their palaces built here. Through 200 years expansion and management, it has become a large garden and palace today. During every holiday, people come here in dressing their best and with their tents and food with themselves, singing and dancing till night.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

FoodsBreakfast

Altitude3650m

Accommodation3 star hotel

Day 04Lhasa-Tsurphu Monastery (79km,2-3hrs drive)

It takes several hours to drive to Tsurphu Monastery from Lhasa, The altitude will be up to 4300m and it takes half a day to acclimatize for the following trekking. Tourists will visit Tsurphu Monastery after lunch.

Camping

FoodsAll meals

Altitude4300m

AccommodationCamping

Day 05Tsurphu Monastery-Leten(trekking 4-5 hours, 11km)

The first day trekking takes 4-5 hours, 11km, by walking along a green valley crisscrossed with mountain streams. Tourists may also stand on the lookout for various species of mountain goats disguised in gray rocks. Several small nomadic communities camp here for the summer herding months, you will walk on a high plateau with a scattering of rock-enclosed huts, and look for a flat area for camping. From day one, the scenery becomes breathtaking, while the landscapes feature typical Tibetan beauty.

Camping

FoodsAll meals

Altitude4300m

AccommodationCamping

Day 06Leten-Bartso (trekking 5-6 hours, 15km)

Today, you will walk along a long big valley, up to the highest spot Lasar La(5400m). Have your first small pass, the Damchen-la(5200m), bear to the left at the cairns at the crest, and descend into a magical valley,meandering streams and expansive, powder-blue sky. Three hours later, you will cross the Lasar La(5300m) and descend into the Yangpachen valley, with its wide open plateaus, and then head towards Bartso. Camp near Bartso, a drokpa (nomad) village of five or six houses, surrounded by the juniper used for incense all over the Tibetan world.

FoodsAll meals

Altitude5200m

AccommodationCamping around Bartso

Day 07Bartso-Dorje Ling Nunnery(Trekking 4 hours, 15km)

Leaving the village of Bartso behind, head towards a wide trail leading across the valley and over another ridge, from where you will be rewarded with views of Nyenchen Tanghlha (7111 m), the holiest mountain in central Tibet. Then you merge at Tajung village, and then climb gently up rolling hills where young nomadic boys and girls on the plateaus as they watch their yaks and sheep graze. The vistas are, again, just amazing! Mid-day, you should reach the small Djore Ling Ani Gompa (nunnery), near which you will set up camp. It’s possible that these nuns, some of the friendliest in Tibet, will drag you into the Nunnery’s tea-house and pass around a heaping plate of yak meat (use the bowie knife provided to hack a piece off) before getting into the requisite photo session.

Today trek the 14km from the Droje Ling nunnery via Tsaburing valley to the monastery of Yangpachen. After the trekking, drive back to Lhasa.

(In recent years, a concrete road link has been constructed to Dorje Ling and places further up the valley, so if you feel like driving back to Lhasa instead of trekking on the last day, you can ask your tour guide to arrange the drive for you.)

Stay overnight in Lhasa

FoodsAll meal

Altitude3650m

Accommodation3 star hotel

Day 09Lhasa airport dropping off

Lhasa airport/Train station dropping off, end the service. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other parts of China like Gyantse,Shigatse, Everest Base Camp,etc. – if you need, please ask us.

All meals listed in the above itinerary (one professional cooker to cook food during the trekking)

2 bottles of mineral water per pax/day；

1 small gift for per person;

One shared big Oxygen tank in the car;

Tourist accident/casualty insurance;

First aid kit;

Services Excluded

Sleeping bag,If it’s not convenient to bring it, you can buy them in Lhasa.

Flight or train to and out of Tibet;

Domestic flight/train to Tibet not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)

Trip Notes

If you want to do this tour from Kathmandu, you need to arrive Kathmandu at least 3 working day before for China visa. China embassy working days are Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri except Chinese Govt. holiday. During these free day you can buy tours from us or can stay on your own. And if you want to start from mainland China say from Shanghai/Chengdu/Beijing , in this case you can apply and get China visa in your home country and stay one night at least in China before heading to Lhasa for original invitation letter collection purpose. We will send original invitation letter to your hotel in mainland China. Remember China visa taken in your home country is not valid to travel Tibet from Nepal. We have to apply your China visa here in Kathmandu.

We need your passport copy by email 15-30 days before the travel date to make travel permit(Invitation letter).

Our price is based on 3 Star hotel, if you want to Upgrade your hotel Please Email us

Cancellation Policy

Tour Programs booked and subsequently cancelled shall be subject to cancellation charges as follows:
a. Before 60 days no charge
b. within 60 days of start of program ~ 10 %
c. within 21 days ~ 15% of rate
d. within 14 days ~ 20% of rate
e. within 7 days ~ 35% of rate
f. less than 7 days or without notice ~ 50% of rate
g. after arrival in Tibet ~ 100%